What is Democracy essays

What is Democracy essays Although the word democracy, in Greek, means rule by the people, there is much disagreement universally over the precise requirements of democracy. 1. Ecclesia composed of all male citizens who met 40 times a year to decide everything. Exclusivity, because there were three slaves for every two Athenians (and because women were excluded) Scale, because direct democracy only works for very small populations. Clisthenes (instituted reforms in Athens between 508 and 501 BCE) He is the founder of democracy Although property ownership remained a requirement to participate in the decision-making process, he enlarged the citizen rolls, diminished the power of the aristocracy, and elevated the role of the assembly. He divided Athens and the surrounding area into precincts (called demes), each of which elected its own officers. This move weakened the power of the aristocracy. A council of 500 of these officers was responsible for general government duties, such as receiving emissaries, maintaining finances, and preparing legislative proposals for the Assembly to pass or reject. The Ecclesia, or Assembly, was comprised of all adult male citizens. It met about 40 times annually and decided everything. He believed that a Pan-Hellenic campaign against Persia and the conquest of Asia Minor would be the solution to the economic, social, and political problems that had brought poverty and civil war to the Greek cities ever since the Peloponnesian War. All things emanate from an unseen source of Good, which we can comprehend through philosophical contemplation. Our environment is the mere image of reality, so the study of our environment is pointless. ...